Benham Park
Benham Park
Benham Park, Newbury
Benham House is a Grade II* listed country house, built in 1774–76 within a Grade II park. The significance of Benham Park is exceptionally high, not just because of its historical role at the centre of an aristocratic estate, but because of the quality of its architecture. The house was designed by Henry Holland, whose refined skill as a designer puts him in the top rank of eighteenth-century architects, in collaboration with Capability Brown.
It had been significantly altered over its life including the addition of a third storey and various extensions. Following two centuries of residential use, the building was sold and converted into offices in 1983 and was the head offices of a series of IT firms until 2012.
Following its purchase in 2017, we provided structural engineering and heritage advice as part of a design team for the refurbishment of the house so it could be used as a private residence for an exclusive members club. This included the installation of new staircases and a lift to replace insensitive 1980s alterations as well as the integration of services throughout the building.
Completed in 2020, we worked alongside interior-design practice Albion Nord and architects Atelier Gooch on behalf of Bluedoor Advisors to re-organise the layout of the 30,000sq ft house, which included the reinstatement of a division between the library and the dining room that had been removed in the Edwardian era.
Client: Bluedoor Advisors/Albion Nord